On Friday we drove 3 hours from Stow to Dartmoor National park. We stopped at Castle Drago, the last castle to be built in England. Julius Drewe, a man who made his fortunes with a successful grocery store called Home and Colonial, had a lifelong dream to have a castle as his family home. It was commenced in 2011 but due to war, rain and general difficulties of building it was not completed until 1936, a year before his death. Poor bloke, so his wife and 5 children got to stay there. However the roof and windows leaked from the start, so the castle is undergoing a 11 million pound renovation.

Like all stately English properties, the gardens are gorgeous and the sun even came out for awhile, so Cassie and Stan took stacked of photos!

We headed on to Dartmoor National Park, a beautiful yet desolate landscape, dotted with mounds of rocks called TORS, sheep and wild ponies meander along the narrow roads many lined with hedges and the wind blows constantly. We explored Postbridge, Princetown and the Bellever Forrest where we are staying at the Youth hostel. We have the place practically to ourselves!

We then headed out for a delicious dinner in a very cute, traditional English pub in an old house. There were dogs and cats inside too. The cider was just the thing to end off a good day.